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USGS1992

Notes on sedimentation activities calendar year 1991

This report is a digest of information furnished by Federal agencies conducting sedimentation investigations. The decision to publish the report was made in 1946, from a proposal by the Chairman of the Federal Interagency River Basin Committee, Subcommittee on Sedimentation. The subcommittee approved the proposal and agreed to issue this report as a means of effecting better coordination of the work of various Federal agencies in the field of sedimentation. The report was issued on a quarterly basis in 1946 and 1947, from 1948 to 1953 reports were issued every 6 months, and from 1954 to the present, the report has been issued annually.

Report↗
USGS2009

Hydrology of the Johnson Creek Basin, Oregon

The Johnson Creek basin is an important resource in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. Johnson Creek forms a wildlife and recreational corridor through densely populated areas of the cities of Milwaukie, Portland, and Gresham, and rural and agricultural areas of Multnomah and Clackamas Counties. The basin has changed as a result of agricultural and urban development, stream channelization, and construction of roads, drains, and other features characteristic of human occupation. Flooding of Johnson Creek is a concern for the public and for water management officials. The interaction of the groundwater and surface-water systems in the Johnson Creek basin also is important. The occurrence of flooding from high groundwater discharge and from a rising water table prompted this study. As the Portland metropolitan area continues to grow, human-induced effects on streams in the Johnson Creek basin will continue. This report provides information on the groundwater and surface-water systems over a range of hydrologic conditions, as well as the interaction these of systems, and will aid in management of water resources in the area. High and low flows of Crystal Springs Creek, a tributary to Johnson Creek, were explained by streamflow and groundwater levels collected for this study, and results from previous studies. High flows of Crystal Springs Creek began in summer 1996, and did not diminish until 2000. Low streamflow of Crystal Springs Creek occurred in 2005. Flow of Crystal Springs Creek related to water-level fluctuations in a nearby well, enabling prediction of streamflow based on groundwater level. Holgate Lake is an ephemeral lake in Southeast Portland that has inundated residential areas several times since the 1940s. The water-surface elevation of the lake closely tracked the elevation of the water table in a nearby well, indicating that the occurrence of the lake is an expression of the water table. Antecedent conditions of the groundwater level and autumn and winter precipitation totals were used to anticipate flooding of Holgate Lake. Several factors affect annual mean flow of Johnson Creek. More precipitation falls in the southeastern area of the basin because of the topographic setting. Runoff from much of the northern and western areas of the basin does not flow into Johnson Creek due to permeable deposits, interception by combined sewer systems, and by groundwater flow away from Johnson Creek. Inflow from Crystal Springs Creek accounts for one-half of the increase in streamflow of Johnson Creek between the Sycamore and Milwaukie sites. Low flows of Johnson Creek vary as a result of fluctuations in groundwater discharge to the creek, although past water uses may have decreased flows. The groundwater contributions to streamflow upstream of river mile (RM) 5.5 are small compared to contributions downstream of this point. Comparison of flows to a nearby basin indicates that diversions of surface water may have resulted in a 50 percent decrease in low flows from about 1955 to 1977. Runoff from the drainage basin area upstream of the Johnson Creek at Sycamore site contributes more to peak streamflow and peak volume than the drainage basin area between the Sycamore and Milwaukie sites. The average increase in annual peak streamflow and annual peak volume between the two sites was 11 and 24 percent, respectively. Decreased contribution in the lower area of the drainage basin is a result of infiltration, interception by drywell and combined sewer systems, and temporary overbank storage. Trends in flow typically associated with increasing urban development were absent in Johnson Creek. Annual, low, and high flows showed no trend from 1941 to 2006. Much of the infrastructure that may affect runoff from agricultural, residential, and urban development was in place prior to collection of hydrologic data in the basin. Management of stormwater in the urban areas by routing runoff from impervious surfaces to dry

Oregon↗
USGS1995

Water levels in the Calumet aquifer and their relation to surface-water levels in northern Lake County, Indiana, 1985-92

The U.S. Geological Survey made 2,328 water-level measurements at a total of 96 ground-water and surface-water sites in northern Lake County, Indiana, from August 1985 through September 1992. This report lists and summarizes the significance of the measurements. Northern Lake County is on the southern shore of Lake Michigan and includes the cities of East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, and Whiting. The study area is underlain by the unconfined Calumet aquifer and receives about 36 inches of precipitation per year. The U.S. Geological Survey investigated ground-water levels and flow in the Calumet aquifer and the effect of Lake Michigan levels on ground-water and surface-water levels throughout the study area. Summary statistics of the water-level data were computed for each site. Ground-water levels annually reach a maximum in June or July and a minimum in September or October. Measured groundwater fluctuations in the Calumet aquifer during the study period ranged from 0.40 to 5.01 feet, and the mean ground-water fluctuation was about 2.3 feet The largest surface-water fluctuations were affected by record setting Lake Michigan levels. Midmonth daily averages for the data-collection period show that Lake Michigan fluctuated 4.14 feet Water-level fluctuations on the Grand Calumet River were from 1.06 to 2.45 feet. Analysis of water-level data indicates that the 1988 drought did not substantially affect water levels in the Calumet aquifer, but the deficit in precipitation reversed vertical flow gradients in ground water at three paired deep and shallow wells. High water levels in Lake Michigan during 1985-87 created long-term backwater effects on the Grand Calumet River as far as 11.0 miles upstream from Lake Michigan. Analysis of water-level data from the data-collection network indicates that the water table normally slopes toward streams, ditches, sewers, the Indiana Harbor Canal, and Lake Michigan. The slope of the water table toward the Grand Calumet River is greatest in the winter and can decrease to being almost horizontal in the summer. Wells near streams respond quickly to nearby surface-water-level changes. Water-table maps indicate that sewers and dewatering systems are lowering ground-water levels in large areas. Ditches, the Grand Calumet River, and the Indiana Harbor Canal connect the Lake Michigan water level to large parts of the study area. The surface-water stage in the Indiana Harbor Canal, which functions as a ditch, can equal Lake Michigan's stage up to 3.75 miles inland from the lakeshore. Human activity, the stage of Lake Michigan, and the storage capacity of the Calumet aquifer combine to reduce vertical changes in the water table in the study area.

Indiana↗
USGS2006

Hydrology, description of computer models, and evaluation of selected water-management alternatives in the San Bernardino area, California

The San Bernardino area of southern California has complex water-management issues. As an aid to local water managers, this report provides an integrated analysis of the surface-water and ground-water systems, documents ground-water flow and constrained optimization models, and provides seven examples using the models to better understand and manage water resources of the area. As an aid to investigators and water managers in other areas, this report provides an expanded description of constrained optimization techniques and how to use them to better understand the local hydrogeology and to evaluate inter-related water-management problems. In this report, the hydrology of the San Bernardino area, defined as the Bunker Hill and Lytle Creek basins, is described and quantified for calendar years 1945-98. The major components of the surface-water system are identified, and a routing diagram of flow through these components is provided. Annual surface-water inflow and outflow for the area are tabulated using gaged measurements and estimated values derived from linear-regression equations. Average inflow for the 54-year period (1945-98) was 146,452 acre-feet per year; average outflow was 67,931 acre-feet per year. The probability of exceedance for annual surface-water inflow is calculated using a Log Pearson Type III analysis. Cumulative surface-water inflow and outflow and ground-water-level measurements indicate that the relation between the surface-water system and the ground-water system changed in about 1951, in about 1979, and again in about 1992. Higher ground-water levels prior to 1951 and between 1979 and 1992 induced ground-water discharge to Warm Creek. This discharge was quantified using streamflow measurements and can be estimated for other time periods using ground-water levels from a monitoring well (1S/4W-3Q1) and a logarithmic-regression equation. Annual wastewater discharge from the area is tabulated for the major sewage and power-plant facilities. More...

Open-File Report↗
USGS1985

Notes on sedimentation activities calendar year 1984

This report is a digest of information furnished by Federal agencies conducting sedimentation investigations. The decision to publish the report was made in 1946, from a proposal by the Chairman of the Federal Interagency River Basin Committee, Subcommittee on Ground Water. The Subcommittee approved the proposal and agreed to issue this report as a means of effecting better coordination of the work of various Federal agencies in the field of sedimentation. From 1946 to 1947 the report was issued on a quarterly basis, from 1948 to 1953 reports were issued every 6 months, and from 1954 to the present the report has been issued annually.

Report↗
USGS1988

Notes on sedimentation activities calendar year 1987

This report is a digest of information furnished by Federal agencies conducting sedimentation investigations. The decision to publish the report was made in 1946, from a proposal by the Chairman of the Federal Interagency River Basin Committee, Subcommittee on Ground Water. The subcommittee approved the proposal and agreed to issue this report as a means of effecting better coordination of the work of various Federal agencies in the field of sedimentation. The report was issued on a quarterly basis in 1946 and 1947, from 1948 to 1953 reports were issued every 6 months, and from 1954 to the present, the report has been issued annually.

Report↗
USGS1989

Notes on sedimentation activities calendar year 1988

This report is a digest of information furnished by Federal agencies conducting sedimentation investigations. The decision to publish the report was made in 1946, from a proposal by the Chairman of the Federal Interagency River Basin Committee, Subcommittee on Ground Water. The subcommittee approved the proposal and agreed to issue this report as a means of effecting better coordination of the work of various Federal agencies in the field of sedimentation. The report was issued on a quarterly basis in 1946 and 1947, from 1948 to 1953 reports were issued every 6 months, and from 1954 to the present, the report has been issued annually.

Report↗
USGS1990

Notes on sedimentation activities calendar year 1989

This report is a digest of information furnished by Federal agencies conducting sedimentation investigations. The decision to publish the report was made in 1946, from a proposal by the Chairman of the Federal Interagency River Basin Committee, Subcommittee on Ground Water. The subcommittee approved the proposal and agreed to issue this report as a means of effecting better coordination of the work of various Federal agencies in the field of sedimentation. The report was issued on a quarterly basis in 1946 and 1947, from 1948 to 1953 reports were issued every 6 months, and from 1954 to the present, the report has been issued annually.

Report↗
USGS2015

Assessment of statewide annual streamflow in New Mexico, 1985-2013

In 2014, the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute began a statewide assessment of the water resources of New Mexico. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute, addressed the streamflow component of the assessment by examining streamgage data for major river basins and streams in New Mexico for the study period over water years 1985–2013 (all references to years in this report are to water years). Overall, the total annual inflow to and outflow from New Mexico generally decreased over the study period. The highest annual flows for the Rio Grande occurred in 1985–87, and except at the Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam, N. Mex. (08361000), and Rio Grande at El Paso, Texas (08364000), streamgages, the lowest flows occurred in 2002–03. Reaches from the Colorado-New Mexico State line southward to Los Alamos, N. Mex. (reaches RG–1 through RG–4), were all gaining reaches. Based on mean annual streamflow during the study period, reaches from Los Alamos (reach RG–5) southward to El Paso (reach RG–9) were all losing reaches except for the Socorro, N. Mex., reach (reach RG–7). From 1985 to 1995, annual flows in the Red River generally were above the mean annual streamflow, but after 1995, annual flows were more frequently below the mean annual streamflow. The Rio Hondo, Rio Pueblo de Taos, and Jemez River followed similar annual trends as the Red River, but to a lesser extent, over the study period. Over the study period, annual flows in the Rio Chama generally increased downstream, and after 1995, the frequency of above average annual flows decreased, and below average flows became more frequent. The Rio Chama reaches were gaining in most of the years from 1985 to 2013. The Rio Puerco annual flows, at both of the streamgages on this stream, generally decreased after 2000. Reach RP–1 was a gaining reach for 24 years of the study period. In general, Pecos River annual flows decreased substantially from the mean annual streamflow after 2000. The greatest gain on the Pecos River was estimated for the reach below Lake Sumner (reach PEC–5), which had gains in all 29 years of the study, whereas the reach from Lake Avalon southward to Red Bluff Reservoir (reach PEC–9) had losses in all 29 years. The highest flows at all streamgages on the Rio Hondo occurred in 1987; high flows there have generally decreased since 1992. Reaches from Ruidoso to below Two Rivers Reservoir, reaches RH–1 and RH–2, were losing reaches for 16 years and 28 years, respectively, over the study period. The San Juan River for the study period had some of the highest flows of any river in New Mexico, and flow on the river generally increased in the downstream direction. Annual flows at the Animas River streamgages were highly variable but after 1993, generally, tended to decrease. The extended periods of high flows on the Animas River seemed to end in 2000. Over the study period, the reach from the New Mexico border southward to Farmington, N. Mex. (reach ANI–1), generally was a losing reach except for 1987 and 1997. Annual flows at the La Plata River near Farmington, N. Mex. (09367500), streamgage generally were less than the annual inflow to the State at the La Plata River at Colorado–New Mexico State line (09366500) streamgage. Over the study period, the reach from the New Mexico border southward to Farmington (reach PLA–1) generally was a losing reach except for 1986, 1987, and 1993. Prior to 1999, annual flows at Canadian River streamgages varied above and below average, but after 1999, annual flows generally were below average. The Canadian River reaches, below the confluence of the Cimarron River (reach CAN–1) and the Canadian River to Ute Reservoir (reach CAN–2), display that the upstream reach (reach CAN–1) was a gaining reach for all 29 water years but that the downstream reach (reach CAN–2) was a losing reach for all years except 2003. Annual flows for the Cimarron River varied above and below average until 1999 and then generally were below average through 2013. The Cimarron River reach, below Eagle Nest Lake to about halfway to the confluence with the Canadian River (reach CIM–1), generally was a gaining reach except for 1996, 2002, 2011, and 2013. Gila River annual flows varied above and below average until 2005 and thereafter generally were below average. Over the study period, the reach from the Gila River near Gila, N. Mex. (09430500), streamgage to the Gila River below Blue Creek, near Virden, N. Mex. (09432000), streamgage (reach GIL–1) was a gaining reach for all years except 1990 and 2013, while the reach from the Gila River below Blue Creek, near Virden, N. Mex. (09432000), streamgage to the Gila River near Clifton, Ariz. (09442000), streamgage (reach GIL–2) was a losing reach for all years with data except 1999. The San Francisco River annual flows were relatively high compared to other years in the study in 1985, 1991–93, 1995, and 2005 but were near or below average for the rest of the years of the study. Both reaches on the San Francisco River were gaining reaches for all 29 years of the study.

New Mexico↗
USGS1994

Rainfall in and near Lake County, Illinois, December 1989-September 1993

Rainfall quantity data for 23 rainfall-gaging stations located in and near Lake County, Ill., are presented. The rainfall data were collected from December 1989 through September 1993 as part of an on-going rainfall-runoff investigation. Station descriptions identify the location of and equipment installed at each rainfall-gaging station. Total daily rainfall is tabulated for each rainfall-gaging station for each water year. Periods of missing record and snow-affected precipitation totals are identified. The data are presented graphically using annual hyetographs and mass plots.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2005

Estimation of constituent concentrations, densities, loads, and yields in lower Kansas River, northeast Kansas, using regression models and continuous water-quality monitoring, January 2000 through December 2003

The lower Kansas River is an important source of drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people in northeast Kansas. Constituents of concern identified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) for streams in the lower Kansas River Basin include sulfate, chloride, nutrients, atrazine, bacteria, and sediment. Real-time continuous water-quality monitors were operated at three locations along the lower Kansas River from July 1999 through September 2004 to provide in-stream measurements of specific conductance, pH, water temperature, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen and to estimate concentrations for constituents of concern. Estimates of concentration and densities were combined with streamflow to calculate constituent loads and yields from January 2000 through December 2003. The Wamego monitoring site is located 44 river miles upstream from the Topeka monitoring site, which is 65 river miles upstream from the DeSoto monitoring site, which is 18 river miles upstream from where the Kansas River flows into the Missouri River. Land use in the Kansas River Basin is dominated by grassland and cropland, and streamflow is affected substantially by reservoirs. Water quality at the three monitoring sites varied with hydrologic conditions, season, and proximity to constituent sources. Nutrient and sediment concentrations and bacteria densities were substantially larger during periods of increased streamflow, indicating important contributions from nonpoint sources in the drainage basin. During the study period, pH remained well above the KDHE lower criterion of 6.5 standard units at all sites in all years, but exceeded the upper criterion of 8.5 standard units annually between 2 percent of the time (Wamego in 2001) and 65 percent of the time (DeSoto in 2003). The dissolved oxygen concentration was less than the minimum aquatic-life-support criterion of 5.0 milligrams per liter less than 1 percent of the time at all sites. Dissolved solids, a measure of the dissolved material in water, exceeded 500 milligrams per liter about one-half of the time at the three Kansas River sites. Larger dissolved-solids concentrations upstream likely were a result of water inflow from the highly mineralized Smoky Hill River that is diluted by tributary flow as it moves downstream. Concentrations of total nitrogen and total phosphorus at the three monitoring sites exceeded the ecoregion water-quality criteria suggested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during the entire study period. Median nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were similar at all three sites, and nutrient load increased moving from the upstream to downstream sites. Total nitrogen and total phosphorus yields were nearly the same from site to site indicating that nutrient sources were evenly distributed throughout the lower Kansas River Basin. About 11 percent of the total nitrogen load and 12 percent of the total phosphorus load at DeSoto during 2000-03 originated from wastewater-treatment facilities. Escherichia coli bacteria densities were largest at the middle site, Topeka. On average, 83 percent of the annual bacteria load at DeSoto during 2000-03 occurred during 10 percent of the time, primarily in conjunction with runoff. The average annual sediment loads at the middle and downstream monitoring sites (Topeka and DeSoto) were nearly double those at the upstream site (Wamego). The average annual sediment yield was largest at Topeka. On average, 64 percent of the annual suspended-sediment load at DeSoto during 2000-03 occurred during 10 percent of the time. Trapping of sediment by reservoirs located on contributing tributaries decreases transport of sediment and sediment-related constituents. The average annual suspended-sediment load in the Kansas River at DeSoto during 2000-03 was estimated at 1.66 million tons. An estimated 13 percent of this load consisted of sand-size particles, so approximately 216,000 tons of sand were transported

Scientific Investigations Report↗
USGS2006

Effects of irrigation practices on water use in the groundwater management districts within the Kansas high plains, 1991-2003

Data compiled for the High Plains region of Kansas that includes five Groundwater Management Districts (GMDs) were analyzed for trends in irrigation water use, acres irrigated, precipitation, irrigation system types, and irrigated crop types to determine the effects of irrigation practices on water use over time. For the study period 1991 through 2003, precipitation decreased significantly (with 95-percent confidence) in northwestern and west-central Kansas but not in the southwestern and south-central parts of the State. Irrigation water use had no statistically significant trend during this period. There was a good (R= -0.77) relation between average regional precipitation and total GMD irrigation water use. When irrigation water use was adjusted for this relation, there was a positive trend (90-percent confidence level) in the adjusted irrigation water use. Another adjustment to water use was made using the ratio of annual precipitation to 1991-2005 average precipitation, which resulted in a negative trend (95-percent confidence level) in irrigation water use. This demonstrated the contradictory nature of precipitation adjustments to water use, making their utility somewhat suspect. GMD 3 in southwestern Kansas used 63 percent of the total acre-feet of irrigation water within all the GMDs. When all GMDs are considered, the number of irrigated acres for flood and center pivot systems without drop nozzles decreased significantly during the study period. At the same time the number of drop nozzle irrigated acres increased significantly. The number of irrigated acres of water-intensive crops (corn, alfalfa, and soybeans) also increased significantly, whereas the number of less- or non-water-intensive crops (grain sorghum and wheat), and multiple crop type acres decreased. Drop nozzle irrigation systems used approximately 2 percent less water in a year-by-year comparison than center pivot systems and 8 to 11 percent less water than flood irrigation. The best estimator of irrigation water use incorporated total acres irrigated and annual average or March-October regional precipitation. A conclusion that can be drawn from the trend analyses described in this report is that, although irrigation water use for all GMDs showed no statistically significant trend, an apparent increased efficiency of center pivots irrigation systems with drop nozzles has allowed more water-intensive crops to be grown on more irrigated acres.

Scientific Investigations Report↗
USGS2006

Assessment of total nitrogen in the upper Connecticut River basin in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts, December 2002–September 2005

A study of total nitrogen concentrations and loads was conducted from December 2002 to September 2005 at 13 river sites in the upper Connecticut River Basin. Ten sites were selected to represent contributions of nitrogen from forested, agricultural, and urban land. Three sites were distributed spatially on the main stem of the Connecticut River to assess the cumulative total nitrogen loads. To further improve the understanding of the sources and concentrations and loads of total nitrogen in the upper Connecticut River Basin, ambient surface water-quality sampling was supplemented with sampling of effluent from 19 municipal and paper mill wastewater-treatment facilities. Mean concentrations of total nitrogen ranged from 0.19 to 2.8 milligrams per liter (mg/L) at river sampling sites. Instantaneous mean loads of total nitrogen ranged from 162 to 58,300 pounds per day (lb/d). Estimated mean annual loads of total nitrogen ranged from 49,100 to 21.6 million pounds per year (lb/yr) with about 30 to 55 percent of the loads being transported during the spring. The estimated mean annual yields of total nitrogen ranged from 1,190 to 7,300 pounds per square mile per year (lb/mi 2 )/yr. Mean concentrations of total nitrogen ranged from 4.4 to 30 mg/L at wastewater-treatment sampling sites. Instantaneous mean loads of total nitrogen from municipal wastewater-treatment facilities ranged from 36 to 1,780 lb/d. Instantaneous mean loads of total nitrogen from paper mill wastewater-treatment facilities ranged from 96 to 160 lb/d. The median concentration of total nitrogen was 0.24 mg/L at forested sites, 0.48 mg/L at agricultural sites, 0.54 mg/L at urban sites, 0.48 mg/L at main-stem sites, and 14 mg/L at wastewater-treatment sites. Concentrations of total nitrogen at forested sites were significantly less than at all other site types (p<0.05). Concentrations of total nitrogen at agricultural, urban, and main stem sites were not significantly different among each other (p>0.05) but were significantly greater (p<0.05) than at forested sites and significantly less than concentrations at wastewater-treatment sites (p<0.05). Total nitrogen concentrations at wastewater-treatment sites were significantly different from all other site types (p<0.05). Annual yields of total nitrogen ranged from 732 to 1,920 (lb/mi 2 )/yr at forested sites; 1,550 to 2,980 (lb/mi 2 )/yr at agricultural sites; 1,280 to 1,860 (lb/mi 2 )/yr at urban sites that were not directly affected by wastewater effluent; 7,090 to 7,770 (lb/mi 2 )/yr at an urban site directly affected by wastewater effluent; and 1,300 to 2,390 (lb/mi 2 )/yr at main-stem sites. In this study, the mean annual load and yield of total nitrogen at the Connecticut River at Wells River, VT, was estimated at 4.47 million lb/yr and 1,690 (lb/mi 2 )/yr, respectively. The mean annual load and yield of total nitrogen at the Connecticut River at North Walpole, NH, was estimated at 9.60 million lb/yr and 1,750 (lb/mi 2 )/yr, respectively. The mean annual load and yield of total nitrogen leaving the upper Connecticut River Basin, as estimated at the Connecticut River at Thompsonville, CT, was 21.6 million lb/yr and 2,230 (lb/mi 2 )/yr, respectively.

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont↗
USGS1986

Reconnaissance of the water resources of the Hoh Indian Reservation and the Hoh River basin, Washington

Ground- and surface-water resources of the Hoh Indian Reservation and the Hoh River basin were studied from 1977 to 1980 under a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Hoh Indian Tribe. It was determined that moderate quantities of groundwater can be obtained from near-surface, river-deposited sands and gravels on the northeastern part of the reservation. Groundwater recharge (induced by pumping from a nearby oxbow lake) could supply numerous wells indefinitely with yields of 25 to 50 gallons/min. Geologic units in other areas of the reservation appear to have a low hydraulic conductivity and would yield little, if any, water to wells. At seven sites where housing construction is planned, soils were tested for infiltration rates and it was determined that soils are adequate for waste disposal in septic tanks and associated drain fields at those locations. Chalaat Creek, which flows across the reservation, provides water for salmon-rearing ponds. Except for moderately high bacteria concentrations (fecal coliform bacteria concentrations were as high as 33 colonies/100 mL), results of water quality analyses indicate no unusual or harmful concentrations of any chemical constituent or physical properties of the water that would restrict its use for most purposes. Chemical and bacteriological analyses of the Hoh River and its major tributaries downstream from the Olympic Park boundary revealed no unusual or harmful levels of constituents, with some minor exceptions. Small increases in concentrations of sodium, chloride, nitrite plus nitrate, and turbidity were measured in water samples collected from the Hoh River in a downstream direction. These increases are probably the result of natural weathering of rocks and soils in the basin. Fluvial-sediment transport of the Hoh River was 82,000 tons from March 1978 to February 1979 and 1,510,000 tons from March 1979 to February 1980. Mean annual transport was estimated to be 630 ,000 tons. About 60% of the sediment transported by the Hoh River originates from within the boundaries of the Olympic National Park, which includes about 70% of the area of the Hoh River drainage basin. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1986

Application of the precipitation-runoff modeling system to small basins in the Parachute Creek basin, Colorado

The U.S. Geological Survey 's Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System was calibrated and verified for two small basins in western Colorado. Average monthly mean, average monthly maximum, average annual total, and average daily mean observed and model predicted streamflow differences were small, on the average < 10 %, indicating the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System can, when adequately calibrated, satisfactorily estimate these streamflow factors. Average monthly minimum streamflow generally was over-predicted, but actual differences between observed and model predicted average monthly minimum streamflow are small. To determine relative errors of streamflow prediction in ungaged basins, three different model parameter sets were used to predict streamflow in a nearby gaged basin. The first set of parameters was based on the assumption that little information about this basin was available. Model parameters used to calibrate basins approximately 75 mi away were adjusted to model this basin on the basis of easily obtainable physical basin characteristics, such as elevation and slope. The second set of parameters was based on the first set, except it was assumed that local climate information was available to estimate the model 's climatic parameters for the basin better. The second set of parameters improved streamflow estimation in this basin by about 7% over the first model parameter set. The third set of model parameters assumed that the model had been calibrated to similar, nearby basins. This model parameter set was derived from the model parameters of the earlier calibrated basins. Using these calibrated model parameter values improved streamflow estimates by approximately 21% over the second parameter set. The average difference between observed and predicted average annual streamflow for the basin using these parameters was 16.3%. For comparison, the average difference between observed and predicted average annual total streamflow for the calibration basins was 12.9%. This suggests that, with some increase in error, this model can be used to estimate streamflow in ungaged basins, if the model has been calibrated to a nearby gaged basin with similar physical characteristics. (Lantz-PTT)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1996

Ground-water and surface-water relations along the Mojave River, southern California

The Mojave River and the associated floodplain aquifer are important water supplies in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. The river and aquifer, in many areas, are in excellent hydraulic connection, and when flow conditions change in one, the other almost always is affected. To better understand these relations, records of gaging stations were analyzed to determine the frequency and duration of historical streamflow. Annual ground-water recharge from the river during water years 1931-94 was estimated from an accounting of all streamflow accretions and losses. Annual recharge ranged from about 24,000 to 460,000 acre-feet and averaged about 96,000 acre-feet. Channel-geometry regression techniques were used to estimate runoff of ungaged ephemeral streams that are tributary to the river. Water-table and gravity changes were used to estimate specific yield of the aquifer and changes in ground-water storage following storm runoff during the winters of 1992-94. In addition, streamflow hydrographs were analyzed to estimate both ground-water discharge to the river (base flow) and historical streamflow depletion caused by ground-water pumping and evapotranspiration. Ground-water pumpage from the flood-plain aquifer was about 120,000 acre-feet during water year 1994. Annual evapotranspiration along the river probably ranges from about 10,000 to 30,000 acre-feet. Factors controlling the exchange of water are identified in this report on the basis of the historical response of the river-aquifer system to stress (stormflows and pumping). Also identified are reaches of the river that are hydraulically suitable for artificial recharge.

California↗
USGS2014

Summary of U.S. Geological Survey reports documenting flood profiles of streams in Iowa, 1963-2012

This report is part of an ongoing program that is publishing flood profiles of streams in Iowa. The program is managed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Iowa Highway Research Board (Project HR-140). Information from flood profiles is used by engineers to analyze and design bridges, culverts, and roadways. This report summarizes 47 U.S. Geological Survey flood-profile reports that were published for streams in Iowa during a 50-year period from 1963 to 2012. Flood events profiled in the reports range from 1903 to 2010. Streams in Iowa that have been selected for the preparation of flood-profile reports typically have drainage areas of 100 square miles or greater, and the documented flood events have annual exceedance probabilities of less than 2 to 4 percent. This report summarizes flood-profile measurements, changes in flood-profile report content throughout the years, streams that were profiled in the reports, the occurrence of flood events profiled, and annual exceedance-probability estimates of observed flood events. To develop flood profiles for selected flood events for selected stream reaches, the U.S. Geological Survey measured high-water marks and river miles at selected locations. A total of 94 stream reaches have been profiled in U.S. Geological Survey flood-profile reports. Three rivers in Iowa have been profiled along the same stream reach for five different flood events and six rivers in Iowa have been profiled along the same stream reach for four different flood events. Floods were profiled for June flood events for 18 different years, followed by July flood events for 13 years, May flood events for 11 years, and April flood events for 9 years. Most of the flood-profile reports include estimates of annual exceedance probabilities of observed flood events at streamgages located along profiled stream reaches. Comparisons of 179 historic and updated annual exceedance-probability estimates indicate few differences that are considered substantial between the historic and updated estimates for the observed flood events. Overall, precise comparisons for 114 observed flood events indicate that updated annual exceedance probabilities have increased for most of the observed flood events compared to the historic annual exceedance probabilities. Multiple large flood events exceeding the 2-percent annual exceedance-probability discharge estimate occurred at 37 of 98 selected streamgages during 1960–2012. Five large flood events were recorded at two streamgages in Ames during 1990–2010 and four large flood events were recorded at four other streamgages during 1973–2010. Results of Kendall’s tau trend-analysis tests for 35 of 37 selected streamgages indicate that a statistically significant trend is not evident for the 1963–2012 period of record; nor is an overall clear positive or negative trend evident for the 37 streamgages.

Iowa↗
USGS1996

Hydrogeology of the interstream area between Ty Ty Creek and Ty Ty Creek tributary near Plains, Georgia

This report is part of an interdisciplinary effort to identify and describe processes that control movement and fate of selected fertilizers and pesticides in the surface and subsurface environments in the Fall Line Hills district of the Georgia Coastal Plain physiographic province. This report describes the hydrogeology of the interstream area between Ty Ty Creek and it's tributary near Plains, Sumter County, Georgia. Geologic units of interest to this study are, in ascending order, (1) the Tuscahoma Formation, a bluish gray, silty clay; (2) the Tallahatta Formation, a fine-to-coarse, poorly sorted quartz sand that is divided into an upper and lower unit; and (3) the undifferentiated overburden, which consists of fine to medium poorly sorted sand, silt and clay. Continuous-core samples indicate that the unsaturated zone includes the undifferentiated overburden and the upper unit of the Tallahatta Formation, and attains a maximum thickness of about 52 feet (ft) in the southern part of the study area. The Claiborne aquifer in the study area consists of the lower unit of the Tallahatta Formation and ranges in thickness from 3 ft near Ty Ty Creek tributary to about 20 ft in the upland divide area. It is confined below by the clayey sediments of the Tuscahoma Formation. The Claiborne aquifer in the study area generally is confined above by an extensive clay layer that is the base if the upper unit of the Tallahatta Formation. Fluctuations in the amount of vertical recharge to the aquifer result in areal and temporal changes in aquifer conditions from confined to unconfined in parts of the study area. Hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer ranges from 3.5 to 7 feet per day. The transmissivity of the aquifer is approximately 50 feet squared per day. Water-level data indicate the potentiometric surface slopes to the south, southeast, and southwest with a gradient of about 87 to 167 feet per mile. The shape of the potentiometric surface and the direction of groundwater flow remains relatively unchanged during high and low water-level periods. Water levels in the Claiborne aquifer fluctuated by a maximum of 6 ft during the period from January to December 1991. Recharge to the Claiborne aquifer consists of a local and regional flow component. Lateral ground-water flow (regional flow) into the study area is dependent on regional hydraulic controls (pumpage, stream discharge, and rainfall). The rate of lateral movement of ground water is dependent on the hydraulic conductivity of the saturated zone, the hydraulic gradient, and other hydraulic factors, and is considered to be relatively constant. Local recharge enters the ground-water system as rainfall that percolates down to the water table. Annual water-level fluctuations in the Claiborne aquifer indicate that the majority of regional and local recharge occurs in the interstream area with recharge decreasing downslope to the streams. Ground water discharges to Ty Ty Creek and it's tributary throughout the year during low and high water-level periods.

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